Social deprivation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: population based study

• Published in: BMJ Vol. 323; no. 7320; pp. 1035 - 1036
• Main Authors: Bushby, Kate, Raybould, Simon, O'Donnell, Sara, Steele, James G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London British Medical Journal Publishing Group 03.11.2001; British Medical Association; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ
• Edition: International edition
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Children; Correlation analysis; Data ranges; Diseases of striated muscles. Neuromuscular diseases; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Dystrophin - genetics; Genes; Genetic mutation; Humans; Hypotheses; Male; Medical sciences; Monte Carlo Method; Muscular dystrophy; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne - etiology; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne - genetics; Mutation; Neurology; Population; Poverty; Risk Factors; England; Human; Neuromuscular diseases; Nervous system diseases; Deprivation; Poverty; Family study; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Social class; Child; Genetic disease
• ISSN: 0959-8138; 0959-8146; 1468-5833; 1756-1833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.323.7320.1035

The incidence remains stable in most populations, maintained by a high rate of new mutations in the dystrophin gene. 1 We observed that a higher than expected proportion of families of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy seemed to be from a deprived background, even at the time of first diagnosis (usually by age 5). Patients from deprived backgrounds have less access to health care than people from more affluent areas, 3 4 and diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy is often delayed. 5 Children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy have a lifelong need for the highest quality of care, and the relatively high levels of deprivation associated with the disease may restrict availability of the sustained, high quality, specialised support needed.